Cheese cutter



July 3, 192s. 1,615,745

J. L. BARTON CHEESE CUTTER Y Filed Mayle, 1927 l 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 3, 1928.

J. 1 BARToN CHEESE CUTTER r M m w .1

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May A19 1927 Amm@ Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHEESE Application led May 19,

The present invention relates to improved cheese cutters for use more particularly in grocery stores, delicatessen stores and the like, where cheese is usually cut in slices fr om an elongated block such as is now frequently sold in the trade.

Briefly, the invention comprises a base, a container thereon for the block of cheese, means in the container for feeding thelblock outwardly, novel operating means for the feeding means, and a slicing blade.

One feature of the invention is anespe.- cially designed plate supported on the base at the open end of the container and which is provided with graduations .and figures cooperating therewith to enable the store keeper to accurately measure the amount of cheese to be sliced as well as to readily compute the cost thereof.

Another featurev of the invention is a practical box like container' for accommodating the block 4of cheese, the same being constructed with a removable top to permit the block to be placed therein and including an efficient follower and feed plate for projecting the end of the block to be sliced.`

A further feature is an efficient gear drive for the feeding means, pawl and ratchet means for operating the gears, and an operating lever which is arranged to rock back and forth for actuating the pawl and ratchet mechanism. l v

Other structural features and advantages derived therefrom will become morereadily apparent from the following description and drawings.

. In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plete device.

Figure 2 is a side View with portions broken away and shown in section disclosing the internal details.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the left hand end of the device, with portions broken away and showing the actuating means more plainly.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the follower plate.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the reference character 5 designates generally the base. It is prefplan view of the comerably of hollow form, being of general rectangular' configuration. Located within the base as shown in FigureQ is a partition plate 6 having a bearing in which one end of a feed screw 7 is mounted for rotation.

CUTTER.

1927. serial No. 192.662;

The opposite end of this screw is rotated in an appropriate bearing in one end of the base and carries a small driving pinion 8. Formed inthe top of the base above the feed screw is an elongated slot 9.

Supported on top of the base is a box like container 10 proportioned and shaped to acclomlnodate a block of cheese. under ordinary conditions, comprising a tive pound block. This container is open at the front, the open end terminating in spaced relation to the right hand end of a base. Itis also open at its top and the removable cover` plate ll is therefore provided. In this connection, it will be noted that the bracket 12 is fastened to one end wall of the container and extends up through an opening in the cover plate, and terminates in a screw thread# ed shank on which a retaining nut 13 is placed. At the opposite end is a retaining strip 1 4, which is adapted to` detachably engage an appropriate keeper 15. At. the

same end is a pressure spring '16 of flat Located within the box is a follower plate 17 of the configuration shown in Figure 4. This adapted to bear against one end of the block of the cheese and is provided on one side with a. retaining flange 18. Also, a bracket 19 is fastened to the bottom and is threaded on the feed screw 7. The bracket, of course, extends through the slot 9j At theopen end of the container is a standard 20 of suitable construction, upon which a cutting knife 21, provided with a handle 22, is pivotally mounted."

At this time I would direct attention to Figure 1, where the reference character Q3 designates a small plate which is rfastened to the base, in any appropriate manner, close to the cutting edge of the blade. This plate is provided with graduation marks 24, including cooperating numerals representing fractions of a pound. These are located on one side of the plate. On the opposite side we find similar graduated lines 25, which have numerals cooperating therewith to indicate prices. These range from five cents to seventy cents. These cooperate with the graduations 24, in permitting the store keeper to gage the amount of cheese to be sliced, as well as to Vreadily determine the price of the portion which has been sliced. Incidentally this guards against considerable wastage such as frequently occurs. Yet it permits the purchaser to receive an accurate quantity and it is therefore believed to be advantageous to all concerned.

Attention is now invited to the means which is provided for operating the pinion 8. It will be noted that this pinion is mounted in a suitably shaped gear casing 26 having a` removable end plate 27. A small shaft 28 is mounted for rotation in this casing and a gear 29 is fastened thereon and is in mesh with the pinion 8. Also fastened on this gear is a ratchet wheel 30 operated by a pawl 31, which is pivotally mounted on an operating lever 32. The operating lever is pivotally mounted, between its ends on the shaft 28, and a coil spring 33 is connected thereto and to the casing. The pawl 31 earries a pin extending to an opening in the lever 32 and also through an arcuate slot 34, in the cover plate. This pin has a little knob 35 for reversing the action of the pawl. It is also to be noted that the casing 26 is provided wit-h a slot in the top, in which the lever 32 moves. Furthermore the lever has an appropriate hand grip 36.

In practice, the block of cheese is placed within the box and is forced against the follower plate 17, which in starting position is close to the rear end of the box, as shown in Y Figure 2. The slicing blade is raised to permit the end of the block to be ejected slightly. If it is desired to .slice the cheese, it is fed slowly outwardly. If however, it is desired to cut off a single piece, the block is projected to match the desired graduations on the gauge plate, whereupon a piece of cheese is cut ottI and afterwards cut in slices.

In order to feed the block out. it is only necessary to grasp the hand grip 3G with the left` hand and to pull the lever toward the operator. The pawl and ratchet mechanism obviously serves to rotate the gear 29 which in turn operates the pinion 8, thus rotating the feed screw 7 and moving the follower' plate 17. In this way the block is forced slowly outwardly. Then the lever is released, the handle 36 is returned to the starting position. The mechanism for doing this is compact and reliable, and ecient in every way to permit the operator to drive the machine with the left hand and to cut the cheese with the right hand.

Vith a little practice, the operator can become quite skillful in his work and always cut off the desired amount of cheese and readily quote the price. A device of this kind, it is believed, is indispensible in grocery stores, delicatessen stores, and similar establishments. The device is not expensive and therefore is desirable for use in comparatively small establishments.

The method of arranging rthe device, for placement of the block, as Well as the way in which the mechanism is returned to normal position is quite evident. In addition, the several'features and advantages are believed equally evident, and therefore a more lengthy description is believed to be unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and re` arrangement of parts coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to, if desired.

I claim:

In a structure of the class described, a hollow base, a feed screw mounted for rotat-ion in said base, an article container, av follower plate mounted for sliding movement in said container, said follower platehaving screw threaded connection with said feed screw, a pinion carried by said feed screw, casing supported against the container and base, said pinion extendingA into said casing, a shaft mounted for rotation in said casing, a gear fixedly mounted on said shaft, a ratchet wheel carried by said gear, a lever pivotally mounted on said shaft, a Spring connected with one end of said lever and with said casing, and a pawl carried by said lever and engageable with said ratchet wheel, said casingrbeing provided with a slot, a pin carried by said pawl and movable through said slot, a knob carried by said pin, whereby to permit said pawl to be reversed.

In testimony Whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES L. BARTON. 

